Surveillance legislation proposed by the UK last November has been examined in detail by the country’s politicians, with a new report recommending 86 alterations, but broadly approving the powers requested by the government. The parliamentary committee scrutinizing the draft Investigatory Powers Bill said that companies like Apple and Facebook should not be required to decrypt messages sent on their services, but approved plans to record every UK citizen’s browsing history for 12 months. The committee also gave a thumbs up to the bulk retention of data, and the targeted hacking of individuals’ computers, known as “equipment interference.”

Confusing wording like “data includes any information that is not data”

The Investigatory Powers Bill will be the first legislation to fully codify digital surveillance in the UK, and has been dubbed the “snoopers’ charter” by critics (a name used to refer to similar laws rejected a few years ago). The Bill has been attacked by ISPs, privacy advocates, the UN, and the world’s largest tech companies, with critics agreeing that the Bill is being rushed into law and that its wording is confusing. Critics point to portions of the law like the statement that “data includes any information that is not data.” The UK’s home secretary and the Bill’s principal architect, Theresa May, later explained that this was supposed to refer to things like paper.

This latest report repeats these complaints, stressing the need for clarity in the Bill’s language. However, it also gives its approval to a number of controversial items. The report’s authors says that the bulk interception and surveillance should be “fully justified” in a rewrite of the legislation, and notes that although these powers might contravene the EU’s right to privacy, “security and intelligence agencies would not seek these powers if they did not believe they would be effective.” This is despite the fact that this sort of mass surveillance (already in place, of course, just not officially legislated) has often proven to be ineffective, as with last year’s terrorist attacks in Paris.

“The potential value of [internet records] could outweigh the intrusiveness.”

Similarly, the committee found no faults with the government’s plans to force ISPs to store users’ web history for 12 months at a time. This information (known as Internet Connection Records or ICRs) would be available to police without a warrant, with the report noting: “We heard a good case from law enforcement and others about the desirability of having such a scheme. We are satisfied that the potential value of ICRs could outweigh the intrusiveness involved in collecting and using them.”

Evidence submitted to the committee pointed out that these records would reveal “sensitive information” about citizens’ political, religious, and sexual preferences, as well their health and daily activities, while ISPs noted that storing this data securely would be a “technical challenge.” Experts also testified to the difficulty of sorting this data, as many apps like Facebook and Twitter keep a near-constant connection to the internet, and internet users can access sites they’re not aware of. One expert noted that he created a blog with a “tiny one-pixel image in the corner” that showed up as Pornhub.com on visitors’ internet history.

Good news for American tech giants

By comparison, the committee were much more wary of the UK’s desire to access encrypted data, including chat logs from apps like Apple’s iMessage and Facebook’s WhatsApp. “The Government still needs to make explicit on the face of the Bill that [internet companies] offering end-to-end encrypted communication or other un-decryptable communication services will not be expected to provide decrypted copies of those communications if it is not practicable for them to do so.”

Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and Twitter all submitted evidence to the committee saying the proposed legislation would be harmful, impacting individuals’ privacy while emboldening more authoritarian regimes like Russia and China to demand similar access to users’ data. Apple submitted evidence separately, although CEO Tim Cook also took the time to personally criticize the Bill, saying: “If you halt or weaken encryption, the people that you hurt are not the folks that want to do bad things. It’s the good people. The other people know where to go.”

Israel’s exports to the United Kingdom doubled since London imposed a voluntary labeling scheme on products from the settlements, rendering hollow concern that labeling is the beginning of a boycott, British Ambassador David Quarrey said on Thursday.

Quarry, interviewed by The Jerusalem Post at his residence in Ramat Gan, said Britain has “had our own national voluntary labeling scheme in place since 2009, and since that time the imports of Israeli goods into the UK has roughly doubled – so I think that shows very clearly that there is nothing about the labeling scheme that is a boycott.”

Prime Minister David Cameron, he said, made clear during his visit to the Knesset in 2014 – and has done so often since opposed to boycotts of any kind.

According to the British Embassy, Israel exports to the UK soared from some $1.6 billion in 2009, to nearly $3.2b. in 2014. Quarrey did not have figures, however, relating to products from the settlements in particular.

The labeling measure was a way to allow British consumers “to have the kind of information they want to have,” Quarrey said.

Asked why the British government did not feel it necessary to inform consumers of products coming from occupied Tibet, Kashmir, the Western Sahara or northern Cyprus, Quarrey replied, “Each of these situations is different.”

In the case of labeling products from the settlements, Quarrey said the government was responding to a “public interest in being able to distinguish between products which are from Israel, and which are from settlements.”

Asked whether applying this only to Israel was not discriminatory, Quarrey said, “Certainly there is nothing intended to be discriminatory in any way.”

Quarrey said despite abundant talk of boycotts and BDS moves in Britain, “the day-to-day reality I see is more connections between Israel and the UK than there probably ever has been.” This is manifest not only in the record trade levels, some $7b. a year, but also in record amounts of investment, scientific and technological cooperation, and security cooperation, the ambassador said.

As far as investment is concerned, he pointed to the recent deal for Rolls- Royce to provide the engines for EL Al’s new fleet of 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, and to the recent announcement that Elbit Systems is the lead member of a consortium that will provide flight training for the Royal Air Force, a deal worth some $700 million.

“These are very significant developments, and I think they show the importance of both countries to each other’s economic developments,” he said.

Beyond economic, scientific and technological cooperation, Quarrey said it is important that the UK and Israel “work together on the big security challenges in the region.”

Asked if they were doing so, he replied, “We have a very good dialogue with Israel on Iran, and that will be important as we move toward implementation of the Iran nuclear deal. We also face common challenges from Daesh [ISIS], which is already a significant threat to the UK, and I’m sure poses challenges to Israel. Countries like the UK and Israel need to stand together to fight the world’s premier terrorist organization.”

On the diplomatic process with the Palestinians, Quarrey said that London has not “seen much in way of details” of the French initiative, which calls for an international peace conference, and if that doesn’t work out, then for France to recognize a Palestinian state.

“We do think it is important to keep trying to move things forward, even at a difficult time,” he said.

Quarrey said the British approach to “moving things forward” rests on three principles. The first is not doing anything that would make the situation even more difficult than it currently is, an obvious reference to settlement construction.

The second is “trying to improve conditions where possible,” such as easing conditions to allow for economic development in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and make possible a legal route for Palestinian construction in Area C of the West Bank.

And the third pillar is “trying to rebuild toward a political process, toward negotiations.” Asked whether this is realistic at the present time, he replied, “The British government’s strong view is that the only way this conflict will be resolved is through negotiations.”

Regarding the proposed NGO transparency law, which has been criticized publicly by some EU governments, but not London, Quarrey was very diplomatic. Asked what his government’s positions on the bill was, he replied: “Israel has a very strong tradition of a vibrant democracy, including a very strong civil society, and we value that – as do many of Israel’s international partners.”

Quarrey was also very diplomatic when asked whether his job here has been made more difficult by the election of Jeremy Corbyn as head of the opposition Labor Party in the UK, a man whose position on Israel has raised concern both in Jerusalem and among Britain’s Jewish community.

“I won’t get into party politics,” he said. “But what I see at the moment is a relationship between Britain and Israel which is probably stronger and deeper than it ever has been.”

With next year marking the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, Quarrey was asked whether his government planned to commemorate that event, or whether there has been pressure on London to ignore it or even apologize.

Cameron, he said, met recently with Jewish community leaders and made clear “he wanted to celebrate the centennial of the Balfour Declaration with the community.”

As to whether he expects his government would come under much heat for such a commemoration, Quarrey replied, “It is part of our history in this region. Britain has a long history in this region and the Balfour Declaration is part of it, and the prime minister has been clear that he wants to celebrate that with the community.”

Quarrey, who previously served as a diplomat in Harare, New Delhi and New York, and also served as then-prime minister Tony Blair’s private secretary, arrived in Israel in July, and said that despite having visited the country some 20 times before, “you just can’t help being struck by the diversity, by the energy, by the creativity. It is a fun, fascinating place to live. I and my partner like that people live intensely in Israel, and I think that is a very attractive thing about the country.”

When asked what “living intensely” means, he explained, “I think people care about life here, they care about good food, about what they do, about the issues the country faces. People engage intensely, and so it is a very stimulating place to live.”

Photos, voice messages, and chat conversations between the adults and their children were among the profile data exposed.

The company later hired the security firm FireEye and subsequently restored its Learning Lodge app management platform at the end of last month.

But it caused further controversy when it changed its European terms and conditions to state parents must assume “full responsibility” for using its software.

“You acknowledge and agree that any information you send or receive during your use of the site may not be secure and may be intercepted or later acquired by unauthorised parties,” it added.

“Use of the site and any software or firmware downloaded therefrom is at your own risk.”

The firm told the BBC that the move was intended to help protect itself from legal claims.

“The Learning Lodge terms and conditions, like the T&Cs for many online sites and services, simply recognise that fact by limiting the company’s liability for the acts of third parties such as hackers,” a spokeswoman explained.

“Such limitations are commonplace on the web.”

The terms include the caveat that VTech only absolves itself of responsibility in so far as “applicable laws” allow it to do so.

The Information Commissioner’s Office has confirmed that this would not be possible in the UK.

Media captionA press officer interrupted an interview last month when BBC’s Rory Cellan-Jones questioned a VTech manager about the hack

“The law is clear that it is organisations handling people’s personal data that are responsible for keeping that data secure,” said a spokeswoman.

A data protection specialist added that this would be the case for other EU countries too.

“If VTech did suffer another breach, some people might be dissuaded from bringing a claim because of the terms and conditions, or VTech might be trying to give themselves room to argue that they aren’t liable,” said Paul Glass from the law firm Taylor Wessing.

“But under European and UK law the obligation is on the company in control of the data to take appropriate steps to protect the information from unauthorised disclosure or access.

“Even if VTech did try and argue that people were contractually prohibited from bringing a claim, it is a difficult position for the firm to take.”

Toy talks

Two of the UK’s leading retailers told the BBC that they had contacted VTech to discuss its approach.

Image copyrightLeapfrog

Image caption
VTech is in the process of taking over another hi-tech toy firm, Leapfrog

“The security of our customers’ personal data is of the utmost importance to us,” said Argos.

“We are aware of the story relating to VTech and we are in conversations with them to learn more before taking any action.”

John Lewis added: “We are in active conversations with VTech around this issue and are looking at reviewing how we communicate the use of the Learning Lodge to customers as a result.”

The Toy Retailers Association, which represents much of the trade, was more robust in its defence of the firm.

“VTech are and have been a reputable supplier of toys and [were] subject to an indiscriminate hacker,” said the body’s chairman Alan Simpson.

“Under the circumstances they have and will continue to take all reasonable precautions to protect their customers.

“But like everyone else a hacker does not play by any moral rules.”

‘Vote with your feet’

Some security experts, however, remain critical of VTech’s handling of the breach.

“No company can protect 100% against the possibility of being hacked, but taking sufficient precautions and ensuring a good level of security is maintained should be the fundamentals of any policy where users’ private data is being held,” commented Mark James from the cybersecurity firm Eset.

“To shift ownership over to the users is bad enough in itself but to make it known through walls of text in T&Cs is a bad way to do it – no one honestly reads it, especially a parent trying to set up something for their children.

“Our minors’ data should be ultra-important for any organisation and protecting that should be their number one priority. If voting with your feet is the best way to make them understand, then maybe that’s the right thing to do.”

Media captionGoogle UK boss Matt Brittin could not tell MPs how much he earned

Google’s UK chief has defended the search giant’s tax arrangements in a hearing before MPs on the Commons Public Accounts Committee.

Matt Brittin said he understood public anger about the amount of tax it paid.

However, he said Google was paying 20% tax on its UK profits, not the 3% figure cited in some reports.

The £130m in UK tax it paid for the 10 years from 2005 was reached following a “six-year rigorous, independent tax audit” by HMRC, Mr Brittin said.

Tom Hutchinson, Google’s global tax chief, told MPs that the company did not negotiate its tax settlement with HMRC.

He told the committee that the tax authorities did not “throw out a number – it’s not a negotiation”, adding: “There was no top-line figure; that’s not how the process works.”

The £130m payment included £18m in interest, Mr Hutchinson told MPs, but no penalties or payments under the government’s diverted profits tax – also known as the “Google tax”.

Analysis: Kamal Ahmed, economics editor

Today’s Public Accounts Committee hearing was interesting less for Google’s explanation of its tax arrangements – we’ve heard much of that detail before – and more for HMRC’s defence of the settlement.

There Dame Lin Homer, the head of HMRC, made two significant points.

First, she said that under the law HMRC could not have demanded more from Google, pointing out that the £130m settlement was the largest the technology giant had signed outside the US.

Dame Lin said it would not have helped if HMRC had gone to court.

Certainly, proving that the company had acted “unreasonably” is difficult.

Second, Dame Lin said that HMRC applied the same tax laws to Google as it did to any business and that at any one time up to two-thirds of large businesses are under-going some form of tax audit process.

HMRC says it is constrained by the complicated tax laws. If they are to change, it is politicians who need to act.

MPs also questioned HMRC officials about their settlement with Google.

Jim Harra, its head of business taxation, said the company was not fined, despite underpaying tax, because proving “insufficient care” was “very difficult”.

Dame Lin Homer, HMRC chief executive, admitted that the six-year investigation into Google’s tax affairs took a long time to complete, but said that similar inquiries into far smaller firms could be just as lengthy.

Image caption
HMRC chief Dame Lin Horner

Mr Brittin said there had been no co-ordination with the Treasury about the timing of Google’s announcement about the tax settlement late last month. The Chancellor, George Osborne, described it as a victory for the government.

The timing was determined by the fact that the figure was due to be made public when the company’s UK accounts were filed, Mr Brittin said.

Dame Lin told MPs that HMRC informed the relevant minister that a big company was to make a tax announcement the following day, but did not name the firm.

“What we don’t, and never, do is share taxpayer information with ministers and Treasury colleagues,” she said.

Tax reform call

In a statement released after the hearing, Google said that it had 2,329 staff in the UK last year compared with 156 in 2005.

In an article for the Telegraph published on Thursday, Mr Brittin said Google wanted the international tax system to be reformed.

He said the company paid $3.3bn in corporation tax last year, mostly in the US, where most of Google’s products were designed and created.

Image copyrightGetty Images

“We have long been in favour of simpler, clearer rules, because it is important not only to pay the right amount of tax, but to be seen to be paying the right amount,” Mr Brittin wrote.

“But changes to the tax system are not Google’s call. Reform must come from governments, not from the companies who are subject to their rules.”

He was asked four times by Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, how much he was paid. Mr Brittin said: “I don’t have the figure, but I will happily provide it.”

“You don’t know what you get paid?” responded Ms Hillier.

“Out there, taxpayers, our constituents, are very angry, they live in a different world clearly to the world you live in, if you can’t even tell us what you are paid.”

Media captionEx-European Commission president says availability of jobs is more important

Cutting benefits for new EU migrants would not put people off wanting to move to the UK, a former European Commission president has said.

Jose Manuel Barroso said plans for an “emergency brake” on in-work benefits for migrants was a creative compromise but would not reduce immigration.

He said the EU would be “weaker” if the UK voted to leave in a referendum.

He spoke out as the six founding members of the EU recommitted to building an “ever closer union”.

PM David Cameron wants EU leaders to agree to a draft package of reforms to the UK’s membership this month and then hold a referendum on whether the UK stays in the EU.

Leaders will debate the proposals in Brussels on 18 and 19 February. Mr Cameron requires the approval of all 28 EU members for the package, which includes limiting in-work benefits for migrants for up to four years.

‘No, frankly not’

Speaking to BBC’s Newsnight, Mr Barroso described the UK as “one of the most important shareholders in Europe”.

But the former Portuguese prime minister said: “The way the British look at Europe is frankly different from the way France, or Germany do.

“It is not only Britain that cares about sovereignty, we all want the rights of our country respected,” he added.

He was speaking as the foreign ministers of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands resolved “to continue the process of creating an ever closer union”.

But, reflecting the differing view in the UK, they acknowledged that not every country should have to agree.

Image copyrightAFP

Image caption
David Cameron is seeking persuade the other 27 EU leaders to sign up to the proposals

Are you an EU migrant living in the UK or are you planning to move to the UK for work? Would you be affected by David Cameron’s reform proposals? Share your experiences with us. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.

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UK head John Calipari talks to the team during the University of Kentucky basketball game against Florida at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
Photo by Mike Weaver(Photo: Mike Weaver, Mike Weaver)

UK 74, UGA 41 (2:36, 2H): Would imagine Tyler Ulis and Jamal Murray are done for the night. Murray finishes with 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Ulis finishes with 14 points and eight assists. Isaac Humphries has also fouled out with three rebounds and zero points. Skal Labissiere has tied a career-high with seven rebounds. He also has four points on 2-of-7 shooting. Charles Matthews earned some praise from John Calipari in his halftime interview and now has seven points and five rebounds. Perhaps the only complaint for UK tonight is the free-throw shooting. UK is 12 for 20 at the foul line.

UK 70, UGA 37 (7:20, 2H): Everything clicking for UK tonight, which is about to finish its second consecutive blowout win at home. Derek Willis has joined Jamal Murray (24) and Tyler Ulis (14) in double figures with 11 points. Ulis is up to eight assists. Freshman forward Skal Labissiere is one rebound from tying a career high at seven. His six rebounds tonight are his highest total since setting that high with seven boards against Boston on Nov. 24. Isaac Humphries has not found as much success as he did against Florida. He’s got three rebounds, four fouls and zero points.

UK 63, UGA 32 (11:05, 2H): UK has this one on cruise control as the lead has reached 31 points. Georgia did end its long field-goal drought after missing 22 consecutive shots, but Kentucky holds a 21-8 advantage in the second half. Jamal Murray is up to 24 points and looks to have a good chance to top the 30-point plateau for the second consecutive game. Tyler Ulis is closing in on a double-double with 14 points and seven assists. Georgia is shooting 22.2 percent from the field for the game.

UK 47, UGA 24 (16:58, 2H): Georgia has now missed its last 21 field-goal attempts, and UK has opened the second half with a 5-0 run to stretch its lead to 23 points. Jamal Murray is up to 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Tyler Ulis has five assists to go with nine points. To make things worse for Georgia, J.J. Frazier just picked up his third foul. He’s missed all five shots tonight. Georgia is shooting just 17.2 percent from the field for the game and 16.7 percent (1 for 6) from 3-point range.

HALFTIME: Kentucky 42, Georgia 23

Kentucky shot 56.7 percent (17 for 30) from the field and 50 percent (5 for 10) from 3-point range as Georgia missed its last 17 field-goal attempts in the half. Freshman guard Jamal Murray leads UK with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, and sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis has nine points to go with four assists. Junior forward Derek Willis has six points and four rebounds, and freshman guard Charles Matthews added six points and three rebounds. Georgia kept things close for much of the half despite its shooting slump thanks to a 13-for-16 mark at the free-throw line, but UK closed the half on a 6-0 run. The Bulldogs are shooting 20 percent (5 for 25) from the field and totaled eight turnovers.

UK 30, UGA 22 (3:45, 2H): Kentucky ended a scoring drought of just more than six and one-half minutes with a Skal Labissiere put-back dunk at the 5:39 mark and has now hit three consecutive shots. Georgia has missed its last 10 field-goal attempts over the last 9 minutes and 42 seconds but has kept itself in the game thanks to an 11-for-12 mark at the free-throw line. Jamal Murray is up to 10 points. Labissiere has four early rebounds, his largest total for a complete game since Jan. 12 against Mississippi State.

UK 24, UGA 16 (7:49, 1H): Both teams have suddenly gone cold from the field. UK has not scored in the last 4:22 and has three turnovers in that stretch. Georgia has missed its last eight shots and accounted for the only points scored since the last media timeout at the free-throw line. UK is still shooting 60 percent (9 for 15) for the game, but Georgia is down to 31.3 percent (5 for 16). Isaac Humphries is getting early minutes for UK with Alex Poythress out and Marcus Lee’s foul trouble continuing (he’s already got two fouls), but he missed an early chance at a layup that could have ended the scoreless streak.

UK 24, UGA 13 (11:44, 1H): Cats getting a nice boost from freshman guard Charles Matthews, who already has four points. Matthews has not scored that many points in an entire game since scoring seven points against EKU on Dec. 9. He only had 10 points in all of SEC play entering the night. Jamal Murray is up to eight points on 3-of-3 shooting. Tyler Ulis now has three assists. As a team, UK is 9 for 12 from the field and 4 for 5 from 3-point range. UK has five points off two Georgia turnovers.

UK 14, UGA 8 (14:51, 1H): Balanced start for UK as each of the five starters has scored by the first media timeout. Junior forward Derek Willis leads the way with six points thanks to two 3-pointers. Each of the other starters has two point. Isaiah Briscoe also has two early assists. As a team, UK is 6 for 8 from the field and 2 for 3 from 3-point range. Georgia is 4 for 7 from the field but has yet to attempt a 3-point shot. The Bulldogs also have two turnovers.

One analyst described the last year as “dismal” after official figures covering 2015 showed that the recovery in Britain’s industrial sector during 2013 and 2014 came to an abrupt end.

Manufacturing output, which accounts for about 10% of GDP, shrank 1.7% in 2015 compared with the previous year, leaving it still 6.5% below the total it achieved before the 2008 crash.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at financial data provider Markit, said the weakness of manufacturing, where output fell 0.2% in December, was the most worrying feature of the survey data.

“This was the third successive month in which factory output had declined, leaving the size of the manufacturing [sector] unchanged in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter,” he said.

“The extent to which the UK has failed to rebalance towards manufacturing is further highlighted by the industrial sector as a whole and manufacturing being 9.8% and 6.5% respectively smaller than their pre-recession peaks seen at the start of 2008.”

A similar picture across Europe has emerged after figures on Tuesday showing much weaker industrial output in Germany was matched on Wednesday by a 1.6% month on month drop in French industrial output and 0.7% fall in Italy.

The Office for National Statistics said output in the energy supply sector dived by 5.4% month-to-month, accounting for 0.5 percentage points of the fall in overall production, as demand for heating energy from households and businesses was lower than usual due to the mild winter in much of the country.

Meanwhile, output in the mining and quarrying sector fell by 4%, accounting for a further 0.5 percentage points of the decline.

Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macro, said oil producers appear to be scaling back production now that prices have fallen below the marginal cost of extracting it from existing rigs.

He said manufacturers would continue to have a difficult time despite a fall in the pound in recent months.

“Long lags mean that manufacturers won’t feel the full benefits of the recent depreciation of sterling until the end of 2016. Accordingly, the economic recovery is likely to remain entirely dependent on the services sector this year,” he said.

Scott Bowman, a UK economist at Capital Economics, said the UK had ended the year “on a dismal note”, but was more optimistic about the impact of sterling on exports.

“The recent depreciation of trade-weighted sterling and our expectations of a pick-up in world growth in 2016, suggest that the manufacturing sector’s fortunes will improve slightly as this year progresses,” he said.

Dennis de Jong, managing director of currency brokerUFX.com, said an increase in output from larger manufacturers was not enough to return the sector to growth, and reports of underlying staff cuts will be cause for further concern.

“With global financial markets continuing to undergo extreme volatility, we will have to wait to see if the manufacturing sector can build some momentum in the face of weakening demand from emerging markets, not to mention negative headwinds from China,” he said.

Image caption
The ruling could change the lives of children across the UK

A High Court ruling that a mother of four who was never married is entitled to widowed parent’s allowance could have implications for law in the UK.

It has been hailed as “groundbreaking” and “a victory for children”.

Mother of four Siobhan McLaughlin from Northern Ireland took the case with the help of the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The judge ruled that denying a benefit aimed at easing financial pressure on families after a death was discrimination.

Ms McLaughlin, from County Antrim, challenged Northern Ireland’s Department for Social Development’s decision to refuse her both bereavement benefit and widowed parent’s allowance.

Her claims were turned down because she was neither married nor in a civil partnership at the time of her partner’s death in 2014.

They had been together for 23 years.

At the High Court sitting in Belfast, Mr Justice Treacy rejected her claim for the bereavement payment made at the point of death, on the grounds that a parent cannot invoke the rights of marriage after death.

But he said there was no justification in denying a benefit granted due to parentage and co-raising of children.

Pól Callaghan from the Citizens Advice Bureau who supported Ms McLaughlin’s case said the ruling was “ground breaking” and its implications would be felt across the UK.

He said it was the first time a partner in a relationship had received benefits that would previously have been reserved for a married spouse.

“Siobhan stood up and said it was not fair that her children were being discriminated against on the basis of a decision that she and her partner had taken,” he told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster.

“This is a case where the judge here has pushed the boundaries of the law for a family.

“This could have massive implications for families and for children.

“This landmark ruling will benefit children, not just in Northern Ireland, but across the UK.”

Mr Callaghan said that, if a child lost a parent shortly after birth, the support received could amount to up to £105,000.

The payment – which is currently £112.55 a week in Northern Ireland – could “really help alleviate hardship”, he said.

The other bereavement payment for widows and widowers at point of death represents a much smaller sum, he said.

]]>UK to send five ships to Baltic as part of Nato buildup against Russia – The Guardianhttp://finalnewsupdate.com/uk-to-send-five-ships-to-baltic-as-part-of-nato-buildup-against-russia-the-guardian/
Wed, 10 Feb 2016 12:25:14 +0000http://finalnewsupdate.com/uk-to-send-five-ships-to-baltic-as-part-of-nato-buildup-against-russia-the-guardian/

The UK is to send five extra ships to the Baltic as part of a Nato buildup against Russia.

A sizeable contingent of British troops are also likely to contribute to a new Nato force of up to 6,000 to be stationed on a rotational basis in six countries bordering Russia.

A decision on troop numbers is expected to be taken at the Nato summit in Warsaw in the summer. The eastern European countries – Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – have been pressing for boots on the ground from the US, Britain and Germany, in the belief that their presence would act as a deterrent to Russia.

The naval deployment and the expected troop contributions are part of what Nato describes as a more muscular approach to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

After years of steady military withdrawal from Europe since the end of the cold war, the US last week announced a quadrupling of military spending to $3.4bn (£2.35bn) to increase its presence in Europe as a counter to Russia.

The UK contribution, though modest by comparison, is still significant given the extent to which the navy has been reduced after years of cutbacks.

The UK defence secretary, Michael Fallon, who is scheduled to attend a two-day Nato meeting on Wednesday in Brussels with an agenda dominated by Russia, announced that the UK is to contribute to a permanent Nato naval force for the first time since 2010.

Fallon said: “Increasing our Nato deployments sends a strong message to our enemies that we are ready to respond to any threat and defend our allies. 2016 will see a particular focus on the Baltic region.”

The growing Nato presence in the Baltic states is intended to deter Russia from repeating in the region the kind of intervention seen in Ukraine, Nato says.

It has come off second best against Russia in Ukraine, failing to prevent the loss of Crimea, and has been wrong-footed too by Russia’s surprise intervention in Syria.

The UK, which already has planes operating in the Baltic states and regularly sends troops to the region on training exercises, is to deploy a Type 23 Frigate – HMS Iron Duke – with the Nato force in the Baltic, as well as a Type-45 destroyer and three minesweepers, with, in all, 530 naval personnel.

US defence secretary Ash Carter is to brief other Nato defence ministers on the details of American plans for Europe, with about half of the $3.4bn to be spent on pre-positioning of tanks, artillery and other equipment in western Europe – because of its better transport network – for fast deployment to eastern Europe if need be.

Nato has an agreement with Russia not to deploy permanent troops along its border but it is getting around this by having troops training in eastern Europe on a rotational basis, which is almost the same as having them based there permanently.

The US ambassador to Nato, Douglas Lute, described the new American posture of prepositioning heavy equipment in western Europe as “modern deterrence” or “21st century deterrence”, a flexible, rapid-reaction force in contrast with the heavy, fixed force that existed during the cold war.

He rejected media criticism that the US move is provocative. “Nato has not invaded anyone recently,” he said.

As well as expressing concern about Russia in Ukraine and the Baltics, Nato also warned about the dangers posed by violations of the air space of a member of Nato, Turkey, by Russian planes flying in Syria.

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said that Russian intervention in Syria was undermining efforts to bring about a peace process in Syria. “The intense Russian airstrikes, mainly against opposition forces, are undermining these efforts,” he said. “They are driving tens of thousands of people to Turkey’s border.

“Overall, the substantial Russian military buildup in Syria and the eastern Mediterranean is shifting the strategic balance and raising tensions in the region.”

UK to send five ships to Baltic as part of Nato buildup against Russia – The Guardian